Flyaway winked slowly, trying to think what she had at home that she no longer wished to keep.

“Yes, mamma,” said she at last, with a smile of satisfaction, “I’ve got a old hat.”

“O, fie, Katie!  I dare say you would be very glad to part with that, for I remember you cried the other day when I asked you to wear it.  Your old hat would not be a pretty present.”

“Then I can’t fink of noffin’ else,” said Katie, shaking her head; at the same time having a guilty recollection of several beautiful toys, and “’most a hunnerd bushels of canny;” that is to say, a small box of confectionery her uncle Edward had given her.

Mrs. Clifford had observed of late that her little daughter was not as generous as she could wish.  Both Katie and Dotty were peculiarly liable to become selfish, as they were much petted at home, and had no younger brothers or sisters with whom to share their treasures.  Mrs. Clifford did not insist upon Katie’s making any sacrifice.  The little one did not pity the blind children at all.  They seemed so happy that she almost envied them.  So did Miss Dimple.  It was not, after all, very grievous to be blind, she thought, if one could live at this Institute and have such nice plays.

“Aunt ’Ria thinks I ought to give them something, I s’pose.  When I get home I mean to ask mamma and grandma to dress a beautiful doll, and I’ll send it to Emily.  She’ll keep it to remember me by; and it won’t cost any of my money if papa buys the head.”

“Good by, Emily,” said she, as she parted from her.  “I hope there won’t any more bad things happen to you.”

“But I s’pose there will,” replied Emily, cheerfully.

Mr. Parlin and Horace were waiting in the hall, and the latter was impatiently watching the tall clock.  They had been in the greenhouse, looking at the flowers, and in the shop, where the blind boys learn to make brooms and brushes.

“Well, ladies, are you ready to go?” asked Mr. Parlin, taking Flyaway by the hand.

“Yes, we ladies is ready,” replied she.  So this was the end of their visit at the Institute.

After they had gone away, the little blind girls said to one another,—­

“What nice children those are!  Which is the prettiest, Alice or Katie?”

For they always spoke of people and things exactly as if they could see them.

CHAPTER IV.

A SPOILED DINNER.

Next morning, Dotty Dimple and her father started for Maine.  Flyaway did not like this at all.  Her cousin had been so pleasant and so entertaining that she wished to keep her always.

“What for you can’t stay, Dotty Dimpwil?”

“O,” said Dotty, tearing herself away from the little clinging arms, “I must go home and get ready for Christmas.”

“No, you musser,” persisted Katie; “we’ve got a Santa Claw in our chimley; you musser go home.”